Directors change chairs

Another piece has moved in the constantly changing chess game of writers' festival directors.

After the sudden resignation of Michael Campbell to return to Sydney, Jane O'Hara has been appointed as the new artistic director of the Brisbane Writers' Festival. She has worked with the festival in various roles, including the previous three years programming and producing Word Play, the popular program for young readers and writers. She produced a sold-out schools program for the city's 2009 Ideas Festival.

"Jane reflects the best of subtropical Queensland: unashamed pride in her home state accompanied by a healthy curiosity for all that lies beyond," said the chairman of the festival committee, Jonathan Fulcher. She has to step in to complete planning for this year's festival in September and continue the success that Campbell built over three years.